I  .  S.  DEPAR  I  MEN  I    OF  AGRICULTURE. 

Bl  i;i   \l    I  M    PL  W  I    [NDU8TR"\     Circulai    Mo    12  • 
\\  li  I  I  \\i    v   TAYLOR,  Chief  oi  Bun 


SUDAN  GRASS,  A  NEW  DROUGHT-RESISTANT 

11A\  PLANT. 


B1 

C.  V.  PIPER 
ttologist  in  Charg<  of  Forage-t  rop  ; 


32199 


»^»INl.TO*  :  GOVERNMENT  PBINTINO  OfTKE   :  1*11 


BUREAU  OF  PLANT  INDUSTRY. 


Chief   uf  Bureau,   William    A.    Tailor. 
Assistant   Chief  of  Bureau,  L.   C.   Corbhtt. 

Editor,  .1.  ]•;.  Rockwell. 
Chief  Clerk,  James   E.   Jones. 


ICir.  125] 
2 


II    I'.  I 


SUDAN  GRASS,  A  NEW  DROUGHT-RESISTAN' 

II. W  PLANT. 


INTRODUCTION. 

For  several  years  past,  beginning  with  L906,  the  writer  and  his 
assistants  made  ;i  careful  study  of  Johnson  grass  with  the  view  of 
finding  n  strain  lacking  the  underground  rootstocks  which  make 
.lohii-nn  grass  so  objectionable.  While  variations  in  this  character 
were  found,  no  single  plant  was  detected  which  had  the  rootstocks 
wholly  absent.  Coincident  with  these  studies  packages  <>!'  Johnson 
grass  seed  were  obtained  from  various  foreign  sources,  in  pari  with 
the  assistance  of  the  Office  of  Foreign  Seed  and  Plant  [ntroduction. 
Among  those  received  are  two  other  varieties  bearing  rootstocks  like 
Johnson  grass  but  differing  in  other  characters,  and  tw<>  very  distinct 
varieties  thai  have  the  rootstocks  wholly  absent.  The  first  of  the  lat- 
ter was  received  in  L909  under  the  name  "garawi,"  through  Mr.  K. 
Hewison,  Director  of  Agriculture  and  Lands  of  the  Sudan  Govern- 
ment at  Khartum.  After  growing  this  Tor  one  season  at  Chillicothe. 
Tex.,  it  was  inventoried  as  Seed  and  Plant  [ntroduction  No.  25017. 

In  further  correspondence  with  Mr.  Hewison  some  additional  in- 
formation  has  been  secured.  'The  Sudan  botanists  were  under  the 
impression  that  garawi  is  a  form  of  Andropogon  hcilejH  nsis,  or  John- 
son grass.  According  to  Mr.  Hewison,  the  following  note  appears 
in  Broun's  Catalogue  of  Sudan  Flowering  Plant-: 

Andropogon  halepenrta  Brot.  Adder  or  Adra  (wild  variety)  and  Garawi 
(cultivated),  Arab.  Tali  grass  cultivated  for  fodder.  The  seeds  are  eaten  In 
times  of  scarcity.  When  wild  it  grows  i"  a  height  of  12  feel  and  is  found  In 
damp  localities  along  the  river  banks  or  edges  of  pools,  Pound  in  Sennar, 
White  Nile,  mid  Kordofan. 

Whether  the  wild  plant  is  the  same  as  the  cultivated  Mr.  Hewison 
i-  not  sure,  and  promised  specimens  have  not  yet  been  received.  In 
Sudan,  garawi  i-  cultivated  only  to  a  limited  extent,  mainly  at  the 
experiment  station  and  at  military  hay  farms,  two  cuttings  of  hay 
being  secured  there  each  season  under  irrigation.  The  seed  was 
brought  to  Sudan  from  Egypt,  where  it  i-  also  cultivated  to  some 
extent  under  the  same  name.  It  i-  probable  that  it  i-  the  grass  that 
all  writer-  on  Egyptian  botany  have  called  AndTOpogofi  'i'il'  /»  ' 
[Or.  11'.-.  1 


4  SUDAN    GRASS. 

The  exact  nativity  of  garawi  is  still  a  matter  of  doubt,  nor  is  it  clear 
thai  genuine  Andropogon  halepensis  occurs  in  the  same  region. 

A  few  plants  of  garawi  lived  over  the  winter  of  1911—12  at  Gaines- 
ville, Fla..  without,  however,  forming  any  rootstocks. 

The  second  variety  was  received  on  December  2.  1(.>0(.),  from  Dr. 
L.  Trabut,  Algiers,  Algeria,  and  given  S.  P.  I.  No.  26301.  Dr. 
Trabut's  original  notes  are  as  follows: 

This  t.rniss  is  vigorous  but  not  stoloniferous  and  would  be  interesting  for 
hybridization  wiili  sorghum.  It  is  moderately  good  forage  like  Johnson  jn\-iss. 
but  has  the  advantage  of  not  stooling  (i.  e.,  sucker ing).  This  variety  is  per- 
ennial here  and  produces  many  seeds. 

Under  the  conditions  in  the  United  States  this  variety  has  behaved 
purely  as  an  annual.  In  further  correspondence  with  Dr.  Trabut,  he 
writes  that  he  believes  this  grass  to  he  common  in  Africa  and  that  he 
has  received  it  from  the  arid  regions  between  Algiers  and  Senegal. 

The  two  varieties  are  quite  distinct  from  each  other  and  the  name 
"Sudan  grass"  has  been  given  to  S.  P.  I.  No.  25017  and  "Tunis 
grass"  to  S.  P.  I.  No.  26301.  Botanically,  they  are  both  to  be  con- 
sidered varieties  of  Andrqpogon  sorghum  and  not  of  Aiulropogon 
halepensis,  as  the  three  known  varieties  of  the  latter  all  have  vigorous 
underground  rootstocks.  Trials  at  numerous  places  have  demon- 
strated that  Sudan  «rass  promises  high  value  for  hay.  especially  in 
the  semiarid  regions  where  no  perennial  grass  has  thus  far  been  found 
suited  to  the  conditions.  Indeed,  it  is  not  too  much  to  predict  that  it 
is  there  destined  to  become  the  leading  grass  for  hay  production.  Un- 
der more  humid  conditions  Sudan  grass  has  also  succeeded  admirably 
and  it  will  probably  replace  the  foxtail  millets  to  a  large  extent,  as  it 
produces  better  hay  and  usually  larger  yields.  Tunis  grass  has  not 
as  yet  been  widely  tested,  owing  to  lack  of  seed.  It  is  slower  in  start- 
ing growth  and  less  tall  than  Sudan  grass.  As  it  shatters  its  seed 
very  readily  it  is  likely  to  be  of  only  limited  usefulness  unless  this 
character  can  be  changed. 

Sudan  grass  has  been  tested  most  carefully  in  Texas  (fig.  1)  and 
at  Arlington  Farm,  Virginia,  but  at  least  one  year's  trial  has  been 
made  at  many  places  in  the  Great  Plains  and  at  various  agricultural 
experiment  stations.  There  is  still  much  to  be  learned  in  regard  to 
the  crop,  but  the  data  at  hand  indicate  approximately  the  best 
methods  of  culture.  Sudan  grass  is  a  sorghum  and  requires  practi- 
cally the  same  temperature  conditions  as  that  crop.  It  is.  however, 
earlier  than  any  sorghum  yet  known  and  will  probably  mature  in 
Montana  and  North  Dakota,  as  it  ripened  seed  in  1912  at  Brook- 
ings, S.  Dak. 

Individual  plants  of  Sudan  grass  under  favorable  conditions  will 
attain  a  height  of  S  to  10  feet  and  may  possess  20  or  more  stalks  to 
a  plant.  The  stems  seldom  become  larger  than  a  lead  pencil,  even 
[CIr.  125] 


BUDAN   URA  •> 

in  the  largest  plants.  Brondcnsted  or  drilled  the  height  average  •  to 
i  feet,  and  the  stem9  are  mucli  finer.  The  stems  are  mostly  mi 
branched,  stricth  erect,  and  decidedlj  leafy,  very  much  more  so  than 
Johnson  grass.  The  sugar  content  is  small,  but  enough  t<>  give  ;i 
decided  sweetish  taste.  The  flower  cluster  is  loose  and  open,  pyram- 
idal in  form,  and  G  to  12  inches  long.  There  is  practically  n<>  shattei 
ing  of  1  he  seed  at  mal  mil  \ . 

SEEDING   SUDAN    GRASS. 

Sudan  grass  maj  be  sown  broadcast,  drilled,  or  in  cultivated  rows. 
Where  there  is  sufficient  moisture,  broadcasting  or  drilling  is  prefer 


Fi'  .    I.— Fields  of   Sudan 


11  if  u 1 1  i \  .it.  d   row 


tin-  li-ft.  broadcasted 


able;  otherwise  the  grass  is  likely  to  be  coarse.  In  seeding  this  way  3 
pecks  of  seed  to  the  acre  should  be  used. 

Under  conditions  <>t"  light  rainfall  Sudan  grass  is  probably  best 
sown  in  cultivated  rows,  though  excellent  results  have  been  secured 
in  dry  regions  from  broadcasting.  In  rows  36  inches  wide,  I  pounds 
<it'  seed  in  the  acre  are  sufficient,  even  with  rather  thick  seeding,  u  Inch 
i-  recommended  when  grown  for  hay.  For  seed  production  much 
thinner  seeding  has  given  excellent  results. 

It  i-  sometimes  practicable  in  humid  regions  i<>  sow  in  18-inch  rows 
and  cultivate.  This  is  especiall}  desirable  where  the  land  is  very 
weedy.  The  grass  grown  under  such  conditions  does  nol  become  t"»> 
coarse,  and,  furthermore,  the  dense  shade  kills  <>ut  the  weeds.  Five 
pounds  of  seed  t<>  the  acre  should  be  used  when  thus  sown. 


6  SUDAN    GRASS. 

FEEDING   VALUE  OF   SUDAN   GRASS. 

All  reports  agree  on  the  high  palatability  of  Sudan  grass,  either 
green  or  cured.  At  Chillicothe,  Tex.,  the  farm  horses  even  ate  readily 
the  straw  from  which  the  seed  had  been  thrashed.  Until  reeding 
experiments  can  be  conducted  no  definite  statement  of  the  compara- 
tive feeding  value  of  this  grass  can  be  made. 

Table  I  shows  the  analyses  of  a  series  of  hay  samples  cut  at 
various  dates  at  Arlington  Farm.  Virginia,  in  1912.  Perhaps  the 
most  interesting  feature  shown  is  the  close  comparison  of  the  mature 
straw  with  hay  cut  at  earlier  stages. 

Table  I. — Analyses  of  Siutim  grass  grown  fit  Arlington  Farm,  Virginia,  in  1912, 
cut  <it  various  dates  in  different  stages  of  maturity. 


Cut  Aug.  7. 

1 .  before 

heading. 

Cut  Oct. 

was 

fully 
mature. 

Substance. 

Before 
beading. 

Heads 
just  ap- 
pearing. 

Just  be- 
to  bloom. 

In  full 
bloom. 

Percent. 
4.13 

6.61 
1.72 
7.7.-, 
30.68 
21.82 
27.29 

Per  caxt. 

3.54 

").  55 

1.39 

6.06 

31.94 

24.01 

27.:,l 

Pit  cent. 

3.46 

5.02 

1.23 

5.16 

33.23 

24.70 

27.20 

Pit  cint. 

3.51 

5.(14 

1.27 

4.66 

35.12 

24.. 51 

24.79 

Piranl. 

4.82 

7.12 

1.49 

5.63 

34.30 

23.38 

23.26 

Pit  cent. 
4.38 

Ash 

5.59 

1.4S 

Protein 

4.19 

Crude  fibar 

34.44 

Undetermined 

26. 70 

EXPERIMENTAL  TRIALS  WITH  SUDAN  GRASS. 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  Sudan  grass  came  from  a  dry  tropical 
country  and  that  the  quantity  of  available  seed  was  very  small,  the 
preliminary  tests  were  all  made  in  Texas.  The  remarkable  adapta- 
tion of  the  grass  to  Texas  conditions  led  to  its  being  tested  in  1911 
at  Arlington  Farm.  Virginia,  and  in  various  Southern  States.  At 
the  former  place  it  succeeded  beyond  expectation,  so  that  seed  of  it 
was  sent  in  the  spring  of  1912  to  many  experiment  stations  with  the 
request  that  it  be  tried,  but  for  various  reasons  comparatively  few 
-tat ions  made  a  test.  The  reports  of  these  trials  are  given  later  in 
this  circular.  As  nio-t  of  these  tests  were  very  small  the  results  can 
only  be  regarded  as  indications  of  its  possible  value.  In  most  cases 
the  grass  was  -ceded  in  cultivated  rows,  under  which  condition  it  is 
usually  too  coarse  for  hay  of  high  quality.  By  thick  planting,  how- 
ever, this  difficulty  is  easily  overcome. 

Practically  every  test  of  the  grass  made  in  the  semiarid  regions 
from  South  Dakota  to  Texas  has  given  remarkably  favorable  results. 
There  is  scarcely  room  to  doubt  the  very  high  value  of  the  grass  for 
this  portion  of  the  United  States.  A  single  test  in  eastern  Oregon 
also  gave  very  promising  results,  so  the  grass  is  doubtless  adapted 

[Cir.    125] 


SUDAN  QUA  7 

in  Columbia  Basin  conditions.     It-  wide  adaptability  to  the  climatic 
conditions  of  the  United  States  easl  of  the  Rock]   Mountains  ia  note 
worthy.    While  the  original  stock  Bhowed  little  variability,  th<   gi  i 
has  crossed  very  readily  \\  it  li  sorghums,  so  thai  it  is  possible  i"   i 
various  hybrids  differing  especially  in  leafiness  and  date  of  maturity. 
Presumably  all  of  the  variants  are  due  t"  crossing,  bul  no  isolated 
areas  of  the  original  seed  have  yel  I »« ■* •  1 1  grown  t<>  determine  whether 
other  factors  are  operal ive. 

In  the  humid  regions  the  results  are  no!  so  uniformly  satisfactory, 
ami  the  future  of  the  grass  east  of  the  LOOth  meridian  can  nol  be 
forecasted  with  confidence  until  much  further  evidence  is  available. 

\  fiw  packages  of  seed  were  also  senl  in  L911  and  L912to  farmers 
for  practical  trials.    The  reports  of  several  of  these  trials  are  cited 
as  indicative  of  the  value  of  the  grass,  and  some  of  them  are  valuable 
uggesting  critical  experiments. 

BESULTS  OF  TESTS  AT  CHTLLICOTHE. 

Sudan  grass  was  Bret  tested  ;it  Chillicothe,  Tex.,  in  L909,  ;i  single 
row  being  grown  and  all  the  seed  saved.  In  L910  this  seed  was 
planted  in  30-inch  row-  on  seven-fifteenths  of  an  acre  of  land. 
Though  the  season  was  exceedingly  dry  it  grew  to  a  height  of  I  t"  I' 
feet.  A  small  portion  of  the  plat,  one-fifteenth  of  an  acre,  was  cut 
fi  r  hay  and  yielded  two  cuttings.  From  the  remainder,  l".l  pounds 
of  -red  were  secured  in  two  pickings,  which  is  at  the  rate  of  :>:'--"> 
pounds  per  acre. 

In  1911,  plats  wen-  planted  June  I  on  newly  broken  sod  land  from 
which  two  cuttings  of  hay  were  secured,  each  larger  than  the  one 
cutting  of  German  millet  grown  alongside.  The  total  rainfall  from 
April  1  to  November  1  was  1  I  inches.  The  drought  conditions  of  the 
season  were  such  that  both  milo  and  kafir  produced  only  about  one- 
fourth  of  a  normal  grain  yield. 

During  the  9eason  of  1912  more  detailed  results  were  secured. 
Pour  cuttings  of  hay  were  obtained  from  a  one-tenth  acre  plat,  drilled 
on  April  26  at  the  rate  of  :'.  peek-  of  seed  per  acre.  The  dale  and 
amount  of  each  cutting  are  as  follow-: 

Pound* 

June    22  23  I 

July    17  181 

Au-'iiM    20 

l  I  180 

To 


8  SUDAN    GBASS. 

This  yield  IS  at  the  rate  of  4.4  tons  per  acre.  During  this  period 
the  rainfall  was  as  follows: 

Inches. 

April  2<;  to  30             0.  us 

May .52 

June    ___: ..  4.69 

July 1.  39 

August     :;.  35 

September __  'i.  92 

October  1   to  14 1.97 

Total 15.  52 

Two  acres  were  also  planted  on  April  20  in  rows  3<>  inches  apart. 
This  crop  grew  to  an  average  height  of  C  feet  4  inches  and  was  har- 
vested for  seed  on  August  3,  96  days  after  planting.  It  was  a  little 
overripe  and  probably  10  per  cent  of  the  seed  was  lost  by  shattering. 
The  actual  seed  saved  from  the  2  acres  was  70S  pounds.  By  Septem- 
ber 20  the  grass  was  again  about  18  inches  high  and  beginning  to 
head,  when  it  was  cut  for  hay  in  order  to  plow  the  ground.  The 
yield  was  estimated  at  about  1,000  pounds  per  acre,  but  it  was  not 
weighed,  owing  to  rainy  weather. 

Two  fields  of  Sudan  grass  were  grown  for  seed  under  contract 
with  two  farmers  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  Chillicothe.  One 
farmer  planted  12  pounds  of  seed  on  13  acres  in  42-inch  rows  and 
secured  a  yield  of  about  10  bushels  per  acre.  The  second  farmer 
planted  4  pounds  of  seed  on  2  acres  in  42-inch  rows  and  harvested 
1,285  pounds  of  clean  seed,  or  15.3  bushels  per  acre. 

The  seed  grown  on  the  experiment  farm  weighed  40  pounds  to  the 
bushel;  that  grown  by  the  first-mentioned  farmer.  44  pounds,  and  by 
the  second,  42  pounds  per  bushel.  In  contrast  the  seed  grown  on  the 
experiment  farm  in  1911  weighed  but  32  pounds  per  bushel. 

RESULTS   OF  TESTS   AT   ARLINGTON   FARM. 

At  Arlington  Farm,  Virginia,  Sudan  grass  was  tested  in  1912,  both 
broadcasted  and  in  18-inch  rows  (figs.  2.  3.  and  4).  The  broad- 
casted plats  were  sown  on  June  3  at  the  rate  of  10  pounds  of  seed  to 
the  acre.  The  broadcasted  stand  was  not  perfect,  .some  comparatively 
sterile  spots  being  almost  bare  of  Sudan  grass  and  occupied  by 
pigeon  grass.  The  crop  in  these  plats  grew  to  an  average  height  of  5 
feet.  One  twentieth-acre  plat  cut  for  hay  on  Augusi  ■_'•">  yielded  280 
pounds,  or  at  the  rate  of  2.8  tons  per  acre.  The  second  growth  on  this 
plat  was  30  inches  high  and  was  beginning  to  head  on  September  20. 
This  grew  to  a  height  of  about  3  feet,  but  tin1  seed  was  not  mature 
when  killed  by  frost  on  November  4.  Nine  plats  of  one-twentieth  of 
an  acre  each  were  cut  for  seed  on  September  20  and  yielded,  on  the 

[Cir.  125] 


SUDAN    (ill  \>>. 


9 


average,  0  pounds,  or  3.8  bushels  per  acre,  onlj   one  fourth  of  t ! m- 
quantity  Becured  from  the  plats  in  rows. 


Fig.  2. — A  broadcasted  Held  of  Sudan  l.t;i--<  :it  Arlington  Farm,  Virginia,  1012. 

Eighl  plats  of  one-twentieth  of  an  acre  each  were  planted  in  18- 
inch  rows  on  June  ;'>  at  the  rate  of  5  pounds  seed  per  acre  and  culti- 


• 

* 

tftfl$&$jEk.. 

,                   1 

d^a^HnVwPQai                     MP ^^l%i'^BK^MMii  ^-^yaB       ^* 

\'IM 

^^ 

H^vb!  Ero 

SUfSA^B^V    ptw^j^^S 

<£& 

Cvfc^P^Ll^cx^. 

'.^"t  \  i  ^^jR^^h  r^^^^S^L^^^HHH 

■Hi  ■'• — Rows  of  Sndan   gras*  at    Arlington   Farm,  Virginia,  1912.     Eacb   row  la  grown 

from  (ho  sood  of  :i  sincM^  plant.    Tho  three  rows  on  tin'"  right  are  typical  Sndan  grass, 

vated  twictv    Two  of  these  plats  cut  on  A.ugus1  J-">  when  fully  headed 
ami  about  7  feet  high  yielded,  respectively,  284  ami  347  |>ouud~  per 

plat,  or  at  tho  rate  of  2.8  and  3.5  tons  to  the  aero.     Tin-  could  have 
82190  —  Or.  125— 13 -J. 


10 


SUDAN    GRASS. 


been  cut  as  early  as  August  10  with  a  very  slightly  smaller  yield. 
The  second  growth  on  these  two  plats  was  over  :'>  feet  high  when 
killed  by  frost  on  November  4. 

The  remaining  8  plats  were  harvested  for  seed  on  September  20 
and  yielded  an  average  of  23  pound.-  each,  or  460  pounds  per  acre. 
Practically  no  seed  was  lost  by  shattering.  The  second  growth  in 
these  plats  was  about  1  foot  high  when  killed  by  frost  on  November  4. 

A  late  seeding  was  made  on  August  7  in  rows,  and  this  was  48 
inches  high  and  fully  headed  when  killed  by  frost  on  November  4. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  by  seeding  not  later  than  June  1  two 
full  cuttings  of  Sudan  grass  for  hay  can  be  obtained  each  season  in 


J_ 

f.J 

:Im&^m 

ifh 

jr 

» 

S^TH^m  "T^HtmI 

Sft^i 

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S  '-^.■K^fe^flSp 

MA^Ij 

k^SiviSs'SAH^fl 

ill 

Pig.  4. — Sudan  grass  at  Arlington  Farm.  Virginia,  1012.  This  is  another  view  of  the 
right-hand  row  shown  in  figure  3.  The  tall  plants  in  the  background  are  hybrids  be- 
tween   Sudan   grass   and   some   variety  of  sorghum. 

Virginia.  The  grass  has  shown  much  stronger  growth  in  cultivated 
rows  than  when  broadcasted,  but  it  .-till  remains  to  be  determined 
which  method  is  most  desirable. 

The  seed  grown  at  Arlington  Farm  in  1012  weighed  3G  pounds  per 
bushel. 

Mixtures  of  Sudan  grass  with  cowpeas  and  with  soy  beans  were 
also  tested  (fig.  5).  A  one-tenth  acre  plat  was  broadcasted  on  June 
11  with  3  pounds  of  Early  Black  cowpeas  and  2  pounds  of  Sudan 
grass.  This  was  cut  for  hay  on  September  6  when  the  Sudan  grass 
was  in  bloom  and  the  first  pods  of  the  cowpeas  were  fully  grown. 
The  grass  was  6  to  8  feet  high  and  the  cowpea  vines  were  of  about  an 
equal  length.     The  plat  yielded  9-2.")  pounds  of  cured  hay.  about  one- 

I  (Mr.  125] 


SUDAN    i;hass. 


1 1 


fourth  being  cow  peas.    This  is  ;ii  the  rate  of  US  tons  of  the  mixture 
per  acre. 

In  an  adjacenl  one  t « * > » 1 1 »  acre  plat  Johnson  grass  and  cowpeas  were 
Beeded  at  the  same  rate;  thai  i-.  2  pounds  of  Johnson  grass  and  3 
pounds  of  Earl)  Black  cowpeas  in  place  of  Sudan  grass  i  Eg.  ."> ) .  The 
yield  <»f  the  mixture  was  561  pounds  of  air-drj  hay,  or  2.8  tons  per 
acre. 

\    imilar  mixture  of  Sudan  grass  and  Arlington  soy  beans,  a  twin 
ing  variety,  was  sown  the  -a  me  date,  using  3  pounds  <>f  soy  beans  and 
2  pounds  <>!'  Sudan  grass.     Aboul  one-fourth  of  the  mixture  was  aoy 
beans,  which  twined  aboul  the  grass  to  :i  height  of  I  to  6  feet.     When 


PlO. 


Plata  ;ii    Irllngton   r  i  ■        \ 

eowpeaa  (right)   and  Johnson  grass  ai  ft). 


cut  on  September  6  the  Sudan  grass  was  in  bloom  ;iii«l  the  soy-bean 
pods  were  about  half  grown. 

This  mixture  cured  more  readily  than  the  cowpea  mixture  and  was 
superior  in  physical  quality.    The  yield  was  888  pounds  of  cured  haj . 

or  at  the  rate  of  1. 1  Ion-  per  acre. 

Figure  6  -how-  a  -tan. I  of  Tu iii-  Lrra--  planted  in  rows  a i  Arlington 
Farm  for  comparison  with  tin-  Sudan  grass  shown  in  figure  3. 

TESTS  AT  MISCELLANEOUS  EXPERIMENT  STATIONS. 

1 1  \  18. 

At  the  San  Antonio  (Tex.)  Field  Station  Mr.  S.  II.  Hastings 
tested  Sudan  grass  :n  l'.'Il  and   1912  and  reported  a-  follow-: 

Prom  the  growth  of  the  plat  tested  in  191]  this  appears  to  he  the  mosl  prom- 
ising grass  that   has  heen  grown  at    the  experiment    farm.     Two  plats   w< 

I  dr.  125] 


12 


SUDAN    (1RASS. 


planted,  one  where  11  could  be  Irrigated  and  the  other  without  irrigation.  The 
plai  not  irrigated  made  a  good  growth  and  proved  to  l>e  as  drought  resistant  as 
Johnson  grass,  although  the  plat  was  so  small  that  the  yield  would  not  be 
reliable.  Only  one  cutting  was  secured  from  this  planting.  Both  plats  were 
planted  on  March  31 — somewhat  later  than  is  necessary.  The  first  cutting  of 
the  irrigated  plat  was  on  July  .",1  and  gave  a  yield  at  the  rate  of  3.4!)  tons 
per  acre  and  a  seed  yield  of  at  least  506  pounds  per  acre.  The  second  cutting 
was  made  on  October  10  and  gave  a  yield  of  3.11  tons  per  acre,  making  a  total 
for  the  season  of  6.60  tons  per  acre.  At  least  three  cuttings  would  have  been 
secured  had  it  been  seeded  earlier  and  the  first  cutting  net  allowed  to  seed, 
which  would  have  increased  the  yield  materially. 

In  1912  we  put  in  a  planting  of  Sudan  grass  March  15,  without  irrigation, 
and  the  yield  from  two  cuttings  was  5.66  tons  per  aire.  Sorghum  planted  under 
the  same  conditions  gave  a  yield  of  4. OS  tons. 


Fio.  6. — Rows  of  Tunis  grass  at  Arlington   Farm,   Virginia,   1!)12.     Note   the   very   much 
thinner  appearance  of  this  grass  as  compared  with  the  Sudan  grass  in  figure  :5. 

At  College  Station,  Tex.,  a  test  was  made  in  1912  by  Mr.  A.  B. 

Conner,  who  sent  in  the  following  report : 

Planted  May  15  on  one-fifth  acre  plat  in  rows  3  feet  apart.  Germination  was 
fairly  good,  hut  stand  not  as  uniform  as  desirable.  Grass  made  very  vigorous 
growth  up  to  July  1.  On  July  7  was  just  coming  into  full  boot.  On  July  1", 
it  was  in  full  head  at  a  height  of  7  feet  and  presented  a  very  vigorous  appear- 
ance. On  August  8  the  plat  averaged  7  feet  in  height,  and  on  account  of  the 
irregular  stand  each  plant  had  put  out  a  number  of  culms.  Some  were  noted 
with  as  many  as  40  to  50.  Plants  were  very  leafy  to  the  top.  showing  superi- 
ority in  this  respect  to  Johnson  ;:rass.  Harvested  August  14  for  seed  and  gave 
a  yield  of  57  pounds  of  thrashed  seed.  A  second  growth,  which  was  produced 
without  any  rainfall,  the  season  being  exceptionally  dry  and  not  enough  rain  to 
produce  a  second  growth  on  sorghums,  attained  a  height  of  above  5  feet  and 
[Cir.  1125] 


-i   DAN    0RA88.  1  8 

was  harvested   for  seed  October  23,  yieldliiK  ou  tud«      Hie  total  yield 

of  I I  fr tl Hi-  null  :i.  re  plat  wan  115  jiounds,  •  ■!    il  tbe  3215  i nda 

per  acre.  Seed  tested  1$)  pounds  per  bushel,  which  gave  tbe  equivalent  of  it  | 
bushels  per  acre. 

A  tesl  ai  Dalhart,  Tex.,  gave  \n\  promising  results,  thus  reported 
l.\   Mr.  W.  I'.  <  .i  iggs: 

Two  one-tenth  uric  pints  "t  Sudan  grasa  broadcast  and  one  In  rows,  were 

■ ini  Maj  '-'.  1012  iii-    i  i       riif  plnl  in  rows  i  "I  stand  and 

it   was  reseeded   Mhj   21.     li   was  Intended  tli.u    these  plats  !"•  harvested   for 

hay,  inn  owing  to  tbe  local  demand  for  b I  among  farmers  it  was  decided  in 

let  the  grass  mature  and  harvesl  11  t"i  Beed  Both  plats  were  harvested 
September  T  and  gave  i  total  yield  a-  follows  Broadcast,  545  pounds;  in 
rows,  562  pounds  of  baj  per  plal  Tbe  fonner  yielded  10  pounds  of  seed;  tbe 
latter,  M  pounds.  It  Is  estimated  thai  -~>  per  cenl  of  the  seed  was  losl  in 
harvesting 

(  \i.i  i  ni:\  i  \. 

The  following*  is  a  report  on  a  trial  al  the  Plan!  [ntroduction  Field 
Station,  Chico,  Gal.,  l>.\  Mr.  Roland  McKee: 

Two  rows  "i"  Sudan  gross,  one  75  feel  long  and  tl ther  150  feel  \<>uz.  were 

grown  nt  Chlco  In  i '. » l _.     it  was  grown  on  g I  loam  s<>u  and  given  Irrigation. 

A  Dne  growth  was  made,  and  withoul  question  ihi>  Is  tbe  tn.i>t  promising  grass 

for  growing  under  Irrigation  in  the  Sacramento  V'allej  thai  has  yel  i □  tried. 

'l'lii-  number  of  cuttings  "t'  bay  thai  it  is  possible  in  secure  was  nol  determined, 
•s  witii  iinth  tin-  plantings  :i  seed  crop  "a-  allowed  to  mature,  bul   it  Beems 

probable  thai   three  •- l  <-nttin:-'s  of  bay  can  be  made.     One  "i"  the  plantings 

was  allowed  to  produce  a  seed  crop  from  the  flrsl  growth.  This  was  harvested 
bite,  inn  still  :t  good  hay  crop  was  produced  after  thai  date.  The  other  plant- 
hog  was  cul  for  bay  shortly  after  it  came  Into  bloom,     a  •_' l  crop  of  hay  was 

secured  anil  after  that  dnte  a  seed  crop  was  matured. 
The  following  data  give  sunn-  idea  of  tin-  growth  •  •(  this  crop: 

May  •_'  Row  75  feel  long;  sown. 

.Inly  '.> In  full  bloom  ami   is  t . .  72  Inches  high. 

.Inly   1.". Cm   for  hay. 

August  •_".•  Si-iniiii  growth  80  i"  i*1  Inches  high 

November  l         A  ■_■ I  crop  of  seed  was  ripe 

May  13  Row  i"'«>  feel  long;  sown. 

July  0 In  Hrsl  bloom  ami  ::••.  t.>  10  Inches  high 

August  20  l  ;;-i   seed  ripe. 

Augusl  28  7"  in  80  Inches  high. 

September  li      Cul   for  seed;   is  pounds  secured      Vield  about  40 
husbels  per  acre  figured  on  hat  >ws 

and  •'!"  i"iiiinil--  of  --'I'll  per  bushel. 

November  t  S ml  growth  •"•  to  t  feet  high. 

901  in  i)  \Kiu  \. 

A  small  tesl  made  in  L912  at   Brookings,  S.  Dak.,  is  thus  reported 
by  Mr.  Samuel  ( ran  er : 

Three  rows,  •".»'■  Inches  apart,  each  8  rods  long,  were  planted  April  30.     The 

bs  grew  very  slowly  during  the  cool  spring,  being  onlj   '■'•  or   I   Inches  high 

on  June  10,  and  was  m>t  Injured  meantime  by  three  or  four  frosts.     At  this 

time   warm   weather  began   and    the   grass   grew   rapidly,    maturing   it-   seed 

tClr.  125] 


14  SUDAN    CI!  ASS. 

September  16.    The  actual  amount  of  seed  harvested  from  the  three  rows  was 
L8.5  pounds,  which  is  ;ii  the  rate  of  OTs  pounds  per  acre. 

June  V2.  two  rows.  36  inches  apart,  each  8  rods  long,  were  planted.  One 
row  was  cut  for  hay  September  16,  when  6i  feel  hiirli.  but  it  should  have  been 
cut  earlier.  The  yield  of  this  row  was  110.5  pounds,  or  at  the  rate  of  6.08 
tons  per  acre.  The  second  row  was  left  for  seed,  hut  did  not  fully  mature 
when  killed  by  frost  September  l\  only  -j  pounds  of  mature  seed  being  secured. 

OREGON. 

Regarding  a  test  at  the  cereal  station,  Moro,  Oreg.,  in  1912,  Mr. 
I).  K.  Stephens  gaye  his  experience  as  follows: 

Of  the  several  grasses  planted  this  spring  at  this  station,  the  Sudan  grass  is 
the  only  one  that  gave  good  results.  It  was  planted  in  rows  3J  feet  apart. 
An  excellent  stand  resulted  and  it  grew  vigorously  to  a  height  of  4\  feet.  It 
was  cut  for  hay  on  September  li»".  and  yielded  at  the  rate  of  1.08  tons  per  acre. 
Although  we  have  hut  this  one  year's  results  with  this  grass,  it  is  the  most 
promising  one  we  have  tried,  with  the  possible  exception  of  slender  wheat- 
grass.  So  far  as  moisture  is  concerned,  this  season  was  a  favorable  one.  hut 
if  this  grass  can  stand  the  usual  dry  weather  of  this  Locality  there  is  a  future 

for  it  here. 

MINNESOTA. 

At  the  Minnesota  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  Prof.  A.  C. 
Amy  reported  that  Sudan  grass  was  planted  in  two  short  rows,  one 
S  feet  long,  the  other  6,  the  rows  2  feet  apart. 

It  was  apparently  sown  thicker  than  it  need  he.  for  the  grass  is  very  thick 
in  the  rows  and  grew  to  an  average  height  of  58  inches.  There  is  a  great 
abundance  of  leaves  at  the  bottom.  The  stems  are  not  very  coarse  and  it 
'nuks  as  though  the  grass  might  make  a  very  good  quality  of  bay.  The  cattle 
seem  to  like  it  green  and  there  is  apparently  no  reason  why  they  should  not 
like  it  cured.  It  is  altogether  probable  that,  cutting  the  crop  at  the  right  time 
after  planting  it  early  in  the  season,  two  crops  could  be  secured.  The  new 
growth  at  the  base  of  the  roots  makes  me  think  that  this  would  probably  be 
the  way  it  would  turn  out. 

1  am  not  sure  whether  the  grass  will  mature  seed  this  fall  or  not.  It 
depends  altogether  on  how  the  frost  holds  off. 

A  i'rw  of  the  seeds  were  planted  much  thinner  and  they  have  reached  a 
height  of  over  100  inches,  being  higher  than  any  of  our  sorghum  plants.  Sown 
thin  this  way  the  stalk  is  quite  coarse  and  it  would  not  do  for  hay;  that,  of 
course,  is  not  the  way  it  is  meant  to  be  grown. 

WISCONSIN. 

From  the  Wisconsin  Agricultural  Experiment  Station.  Prof.  A.  L. 
Stone  wrote  as  follows: 

The  Sudan  grass  sen'  us  last  spring  for  trial  came  a  little  too  late  to  give 
us  an  opportunity  to  get  in  as  large  a  plat  of  it  as  we  would  have  liked  to  do. 
We  put  in  only  a  single  row  of  the  grass,  this  row  being  about  60  feet  long. 
The  grass  came  on  very  nicely  and  headed  out  in  tine  shape.  It  will  he  Im- 
possible under  the  circumstances  to  make  any  estimate  of  the  yield  per  acre. 
bul  from  its  appearance  I  am  of  the  opinion  this  grass  might  prove  of  value 
in  some  sections  of  the  country  and  possibly  right  here  in  Wisconsin,  although 
it  would  need  some  experimentation  to  determine  whether  it  can  compete  with 
timothy.  I  like  the  appearance  of  the  grass 
[Cir.  V2o] 


SUDAN   GRAJ  1  .") 


I  Mil  \\  \. 


\i  the  [ndiana  Agricultural  Experimenl  Station  Sudan  grass  \\m- 
nol  ;i  success,  :i-  is  shown  by  the  reporl  of  Mi    \l.  1..  Fisher. 

!■•  biij  ii  plainly,  I  think  Sudan  no)  worth  the  room  It  leasl 

such  Is  its  ruerll   this  presenl  year      Ii   Ims  I d  a   wel   Reason  anil,  ol 

it  could  nol  show  droughl  resisting  qualities  ii  is  nol  al  all  equal  i"  mlllel 
or  sorghum.    The  plants  which  l  ii.i \ •■  grown  this  year  are  d 

tall  and  oever  appeared  n>  be  verj   thrift]      I  raised  - Johnson  grass  some 

few  years  ago  and  the  Sudan  grass  seems  i"  be  about  the  same  tor  this  section 
as  ili«'  Johnson  grass.  I  think  the  plnnl  would  no<  furnlsb  two  cuttings  In 
ilii-.  section,  although  l  have  uol  wade  an  efforl  i"  determine  thai  point 

OHIO, 

Ai  the  Ohio  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  Sudan  grass  was 
tested  in  comparison  with  millets  and  —« »i-^rl  1 1 1 1 1 1 — .  Prof.  C.  G.  Wil- 
liams gave  the  results  as  follows: 

The  yield  of  the  Sudan  grass  and  .1  few  competitoi 

iir  drj  « 

Sudan  grass                         3  88 

Hungarian  millet  2  26 

German  mlllel  •".  55 

Japan  barn]  ard  mlllel  f   Is 

Early  Amber  sorghum  8.  75 

We  di.l  nol  gel  .1  chance  to  tesl  them  < >ni  under  droughty  conditions,  for  we 
bad  anything  bui  ;i  drought   this  season.     1   am  nol  able  to  give  any  opinion 

0  its  ability  to  furnish  i\\"  crops,  as  we  <ii>l  nol  cul   ii  early  for  a  si nd 

crop.     "%  ■  *i  1  Bee  thai  it  compared  very  favorably  with  the  millets.     We  have 
tested  ii  as  to  quality  <t  palatabillty. 

L01  I81ANA. 

Prof.  W.  R.  Dodson,  of  the  Louisiana  State  Experimenl  Station, 
tested  Sudan  grass  in  L912  and  reported  as  follows: 

Two  rows,  each  •">|HI  feel  long,  were  planted  al  iii«-  experimenl  station  al 
Baton  Rouge.  The  flrsl  cutting  \\:is  made  when  the  grass  w:i-  5  to  6  feel  high; 
the  second,  August  26,  when  l  to  a  feel  bigb;  and  0  third  cutting  was  expected. 
The  grass  was  cul  each  time  when  it  was  beading  out 

Prof.  Dodson  estimates  the  first  crop  al  :>>  tun-  per  acre  and  the 
second  al  2  tons.  A  pi  rtion  "I"  1 1 1  * •  row  lefl  to  mature  failed  in  pro- 
duce seed,  doubtless  owing  to  the  work  of  the  sorghum  midge.  In  ;i 
later  reporl  the  opinion  i-  expressed  thai  "  we  can  safely  count  on  two 

■  I  cuttings  :uiil  one  moderate  cutting." 

OKI    \  MoM  V. 

For  tlu1  Oklahoma  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  Mr.  A.  II. 
Wright  reported  a-  follow  9 : 

The  Sudan  cim>s  grew  well,  reaching  :i  height  of  6  t"  1  oatur- 

ing  8  ni  10  days  earlier  than  any  other  sorghum.  The  plats  were  small,  _'  rows 
[Clr.  U.-.l 


16  SUDAX    GRASS. 

in  one  plat  covering  one  twenty-fifth  of  an  acre  and  6  rows  in  another  one 
twenty-fill li  of  an  acre.  These  were  sown  May  1  and  harvested  for  seed 
August  1-.  yielding,  respectively,  at  the  rate  of  900  and  700  pounds  of  seed  and 
2.775  and  2,525  pounds  of  stover  per  acre. 

ALABAMA. 

In  reference  to  a  test  at  the  Alabama  Agricultural  Experiment 
Station,  Mr.  E.  F.  Cauthen  sent  the  following  account: 

The  Sudan  grass  was  planted  June  15  and  was  mowed  for  liny  on  August  16. 
We  planted  it  alone,  in  connection  with  cowpeas,  in  connection  with  Japanese 
millet,  and  in  connection  with  German  millet.  The  Japanese  millet  is  too  early 
for  the  grass.  The  German  millet  fits  better  with  this  grass  for  hay.  The 
ordinary  cowpea  seems  to  he  a  little  late  as  a  combination  crop. 

The  hay  should  have  been  cut  about  the  1st  of  August,  but  was  left  for  the 
farmers  attending  the  summer  school  to  Inspect, 

I  am  inclosing  a  print  showing  the  grass  and  cowpeas  just  before  they  were 
mowed.  It  looks  to  me  that  the  Sudan  grass  will  make  a  permanent  bay  crop 
for  this  section.  I  have  one  plat  that  I  am  saving  for  seed  and  will  mow  the 
other  the  second  time  if  the  grass  gets  sufficiently  high. 

TENNESSEE. 

At  the  Tennessee  Agricultural  Exj^eriment  Station  one-tenth  of 
an  acre  was  sown  broadcast.    Prof.  C.  A.  Mooers  wrote  as  follow?: 

Our  test  with  Sudan  grass  will  not  allow  me  to  draw  all  the  conclusions  that 
you  want.  This  grass  rusted  rather  badly  this  year  but  made  a  fair  yield,  and 
under  favorable  conditions  I  feel  sure  that  a  second  crop  could  be  cut  to  advan- 
tage.    It   stood  the  dry  weather  only  fairly  well. 

Comments  by  Prof.  Morgan  and  others  who  saw  the  plats  are  rather  unfavor- 
able to  this  grass,  but  I  think  the  tonnage  was  greater  than  that  of  millet  sown 
at  the  same  time.  Of  course,  common  sorghum  would  outyield  it  greatly,  but 
the  difficulty  with  which  it  is  cured  hardly  enables  us  to  make  a  fair  compari- 
son between  the  two.  I  may  add  that  some  Rhodes  grass  planted  at  the  same 
time  far  outyielded  the  Sudan  grass  and  made  a  very  attractive  growth,  indeed. . 

KENTUCKY. 

In  a  small  test  at  the  Kentucky  Agricultural  Experiment  Station 
the  grass  was  allowed  to  mature  for  seed.  Prof.  II.  Garman  reported 
the  following  results: 

Land  plowed,  disked,  and  harrowed.  One-fortieth  of  an  acre  planted  at  rate 
of  2(i  pounds  per  acre.  Drilled;  rows  3  feet  apart.  Came  up  May  27.  1912. 
Stand  perfect.  Began  to  bloom  July  15.  In  full  bloom  July  2.~>.  Last  bloom 
August  5.  Cut  for  hay  October  21.  Yield,  fresh.  190  pounds.  Yield,  dry.  Is4 
pounds.     Height  of  plants,  7.1  inches.     Seed  saved  for  planting  in  1913. 

MARYLAND. 

The  results  obtained  at  (he  Maryland  Agricultural  Experiment 
Station  are  tints  reported  by  Mr.  Nicholas  Schmitz: 

The  Sudan  grass  was  planted  in  rows  on  June  :!  and  July  1.'!.  The  planting 
made  on  June  ."!  consisted  of  about  one-fourth  ,,f  an  acre.     It  came  up  well,  and 

there  was  a    g 1  stand   to  begin   with,   but    owing  to  various  accidents  during 

the  season  there  was  not  more  than  about  one-third  of  a  stand  left  to  produce 
[CIr.  125] 


BUDAN   ORA  1  « 

•s i.    The  yield  of  Beed  was  al t  •"■  bushels  mul  was  harvested  i  *  ■  •  -  first  w  •  • 

in  November 

That  planted  on  July  13  did  nol  mature  Beed  before  frost  but  w  -  rends  for 
cutting  tor  baj  after  the  middle  of  October 

The  grass  seems  verj  promising  for  this  section,  snd  II  appears  from  the  late 

seeding  thai  over  a   large  pari  of  Murj  I  II   would  be  possible  t"  -*'w  the 

gran  after  wheal  and  harvest  n  crop  of  baj  thai  year 

The  baj  was  relished  verj  much  bj  our  dalrj  cows,  and  our  dairymen  w< 
enthusiastic  over  II  thai   thej   aaked  tor  a  field  of  this  tor  bay  tor  the  cows 
nezl  rear. 

VIRGINIA, 

At  the  Virginia  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  :i  small  test  gave 
the  follow  ing  data  : 

The  Sudan  grass  was  broadcasted  on  n  plal  of  one  Oftleth  of  an  acre,  bnl  was 
not  harvested  until  nearly  mature  (September  11),  when  ii  was  V'  feel  tall. 
The  plal  yielded  200  pounds  of  coarse  hay,  or  al  the  rate  of  5  tons  pet  acre. 
The  chief  criticism  offered  ns  ;i  bay  plant  is  its  coarseneea 

\  I  u     .m  RSI  'i  . 

From  the  Ne^  Jersey  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  Director 
.!.  (J.  Lipman  sent  the  following  report  : 

The  Sudan  grass  was  seeded  In  the  spring,  and  the  seeding  «;k  followed  by 
decidedly  unfavorable  weather  conditions.  V7e  bad  a  severe  drought  in  June 
ami  July.     Nevertheless,  the  crop  In  question  made  fairlj   Batlsfactorj   growth 

anil  yielded  on  i r  land  a  crop  equivalent  to  1  ton  of  dry  matter  iht  acre. 

The  hay  made  from  the  Sudan  grass  was  better  In  quality  than  thai  we  could 
have  made  from  mlllel  grown  under  the  Bame  conditions,  it  is  Mr.  ••wen's 
opinion  that  on  the  whole  Sudan  grass  will  compare  favorably  with  mlllel  as 
to  growth  under  trying  climatic  and  soil  conditions  and  thai  it  will  produce 
■  hay  of  better  quality.  It  is  my  Impression  thai  on  better  soil  and  under  more 
favorable  climatic  conditions  Sudan  grass  should  yield  a  crop  equivalent   to 

'2  or  e\en  more  tons  ,>t'  hay  per  acre. 

REPORTS    OF    EXPERIMENTAL    TRIALS    BY    FARMERS. 

TEXAS, 

A  detailed  report  of  particular  interest  was  received  from  Mr. 
F.  J.  McCarthy,  Boerne,  Tex.,  under  date  of  September  I.  1912: 

I  deferred  planting  the  seed.  Seeing  no  Bign  of  rain  <>n  April  18  and  knowing 
there  was  nol  enough  moisture  in  the  soil  to  sprout  the  Beed,  I  thought  it  beal 
to  plant  the  seed  In  the  dust  and  take  my  chances  of  the  first  rain  sprouting 
tin-  s.'fd.  I  had  plowed  a  piece  of  new  land  In  November,  1911.  This  land  had 
received  two  harrowinga;  one  December  10,  1911,  the  other  February  it.  1912. 
This  land  is  dry  upland  and  was  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  post  oak, 
blackjack,   and   live-oak   timber.      April    is,    1912,    I    opened    seven    furrows,    100 

yards  long,  •">  feet   apart,  and  2  inches  deep.      I   planted   the  Sudan   grass   B 1 

in  furrows  and  covered  the  Beed  2  Inches  deep  With  the  dry  dust.  April  'S< 
we  had  a  drizzling  rain  which  lasted  from  8  a.  m.  until  10.30  a,  m.  Maj  i 
the  grass  appeared  above  ground,  about  half  of  a  stand     <>n  Investigation   I 

found  the  other  half  Of  the  seed  dry  and  untouched  by  the  moisture.  May  -i  we 
had  a  light  rain,  lasting  from  G  a.  m.  to  7  a.  m..  not  enough  to  sprout  the 
dr\  Beed. 

[Cir.  126] 


18  SUDAN    GRASS. 

We  cultivated  the  Sudan  grass  with  a  5-tooth  cultivator,  very  shallow  the  first 
time,  May  25.  Second  cultivation,  June  <;.  Light  rain,  not  enough  to  sprout 
tlic  dry  seed  still  in  the  ground.  June  20,  cultivated  the  third  time  with  5-tooth 
cultivator,  shallow.    July  1,  cultivated  the  grass  the  fourth  and  the  last  time. 

Being  anxious  to  save  the  seed  of  this  grass  and  thinking  that  every  day 
would  bring  a  rain  to  mature  the  seed  1  left  it  growing  till  August  18.  On  that 
date  the  grass  was  s  feet  <i  inches  high  and  so  dense  was  the  growth  one  could 
not  pass  between  the  3-foo1  rows. 

I  wish  to  state  that  on  the  same  date,  on  the  same  land,  and  under  the  very 
same  conditions,  I  planted  kafir  corn,  milo  maize,  sorghum,  and  corn.  All  of 
these  completely  died  out  ;  they  could  not  withstand  the  terrible  heat  and 
drought.  The  thermometer  registered  from  June  1  to  the  date  of  this  report 
(September  4,  1912)  105°  to  110°  F.  in  the  shade.  All  vegetation  was  sear  and 
dead  except  Johnson  grass,  which  grew  from  1  foot  to  18  inches  high.  Sudan 
grass  showed  no  effects  of  the  drought  except  the  seed  heads,  which  remained 
white. 

I  do  not  know  how  far  north  this  grass  will  grow,  but  I  am  satisfied  there  is 
no  place  too  hot  or  dry  for  it  if  there  is  moisture  enough  to  sprout  the  seed. 

I  am  a  stockman  and  I  have  been  testing  grasses  and  clovers  for  the  last 
35  years,  with  the  result  that  I  had  to  fall  back  on  the  sorghums,  the  very 
thing  I  was  trying  to  avoid. 

Additional  data  were  supplied  in  a  supplemental  report  dated  Jan- 
uary 24,  1913. 

I  herewith  send  you  a  supplemental  report  on  the  Sudan  grass.  The  grass 
was  first  cut  on  August  14,  1912.  It  made  a  large  amount  of  feed.  I  would  say 
at  the  rate  of  4  tons  per  acre. 

A  few  days  after  being  cut  it  began  to  grow  from  the  stubble.  Having  no 
rain  it  grew  slowly  until  Sepember  21,  1912.  On  that  date  we  had  our  first  rain 
since  June,  1912.  After  that  date  it  began  to  grow  quickly  until  November  6, 
1912.  November  1,  2,  and  3  we  had  a  severe  frost  which  did  not  seem  to  hurt 
it  at  all.  November  G,  a  dry  blizzard  came  down  on  us.  Being  afraid  I  was  go- 
ing to  lose  the  grass,  I  cut  it  and  tied  it.  still  green,  in  bundles  and  hauled  it 
to  the  barn,  where  it  cured  and  made  me  plenty  of  fine  feed,  it  being  4  feet  high 
at  the  time  of  cutting.  If  I  had  cut  this  at  the  proper  time  to  make  good  feed, 
i.  e.,  when  the  seed  was  in  the  boot,  I  could  have  cut  it  four  times  instead  of 
twice,  but  I  was  anxious  to  save  the  seed.  The  terrible  drought  blasted  the 
first  crop  and  the  frost  prevented  the  second  from  maturing.1  I  exhibited  at 
the  Boerne  fair,  September  6  and  7,  1912.  a  bunch  of  this  grass  that  measured 
10J  feet  high.  Agents  of  the  Agricultural  Department,  College  Station.  Tex.. 
who  acted  as  judges  at  the  Boerne  fair,  were  astonished.  They  told  me  they  had 
the  grass  drilled  just  as  I  had  drilled  mine  and  it  only  grew  4  feet  high  for  them. 

Dr.  W.  O.  Langdon,  of  Hutehins,  Tex.,  grew  Sudan  grass  in  1911 
and  again  in  1912.  He  thus  reported  his  1912  results,  under  date  of 
August  18: 

The  seed  received  this  spring  was  planted  in  a  little  piece  of  ground  in  rows 
about  30  inches  apart.  It  made  a  fine  growth  of  an  average  of  6  feet.  Much  of 
it  was  nearly  S  feet  high.  When  seed  was  ripe,  about  August  1.  I  cut  it.  It  im- 
mediately began  a  second  growth  and  is  now  nearly  .'!  feet  high.  The  ground  is 
covered  with  young  plants  from  Shattered  seed.  I  think  it  is  the  greatest  for- 
age plant  ever  introduced  into  this  section  and  that  it  will  be  worth  millions  to 

1  The  blasting  of  the  seed  referred  to  by  Mr.  McCarthy  is  perhaps  due  to  the  work  of 
the  sorghum   midge,   which   attacks   Sudan   grass,   like  other  sorghums. 
[Cir.  l-.".l 


SUDAN   0BA88.  1  '.I 

Texas  and  other  semlnrld  sections     All  stock  '--it   it   ravenously,  .1^  ii   i-  verj 

sweet    The  Inclosed  pictures  will  give  you  - Idea  of  It,  although  ii  uiusl  \«- 

seen  n>  be  fullj  appra  lated 

In  -.\  supplementary  reporl  dated  January  20,  L913,  he  added: 

in  answer  to  your  letter  will  Inform  you  thai  the  m nd  growth  of  Sudan 

■rasa  attained  a  height  of  at  lens)  an  average  of  0  feel  l  cul  and  stored  the 
hay  from  the  Bret  cutting,  hoping  to  get  the  Beed  thrashed  out,  bul  « l i •  l  nol  su. 
ceed  In  doing  so.  I  •  l i « l  nol  cul  the  mi •■  »u, i  growth,  bul  am  Bure  ii  was  a^  heavy  as 
the  Brsl  crop.  I  am  Borrj  I  can  nol  give  you  more  definite  Information  aa  re 
gards the amounl  of  haj  and  seed  produced,  bul  have  been  < ery  much  "  under  the 
weather"  for  sunn-  months  and  bo  things  have  gone  -  Of  one  thing  I  am 

certain  there  Is  no  better  forage  plan)  for  1 1 * i  —  section.  It  is  a  wonderful  pro 
ducer,  very  drought    resistant,  makes  a   most    reniarknblj    sweet  smelling  ha] 

with  a   very  different  odor  from  Johnson-grass  hay,  and  "ill  never  bee a 

pest. 

Mr.  J.  K.  Stegall,  of  1  tetroit,  Tex.,  wrote  concerning  his  1912  expe- 
rience ;i-  follows  : 

I  sowed  the  Sudan  seed  that  you  Bent  me,  half  In  bottom  on  Btrong  land  and 
the  other  half  on  sandy,  thin  land.  The  results  on  i><>tii  are  most  wonderful. 
I  prepared  a  good  seed  bed  bj  breaking  deep  and  then  narrowed  both  ways 
I  sowed  seed  April  25,  making  the  lirst  cutting  Maj  -'"  l  have  cut  the 
twentieth  of  every  summer  month,  June,  July,  and  August.     I  am  cutting  to-day 

(August   20,   1912).     The  yield  is  larger  everj   cutting,  as  it   stools  out    fi i 

the  root  The  piece  In  the  bottom  l  sowed  by  the  Bide  of  a  small  boo!  of 
Johnson  grass  l  have  cul  the  Johnson  grass  twice  and  the  Sudan  grass  four 
times.  Stock  eat  Sudan  grass  bay  with  more  relish  than  .lidins.,11  grass  hay, 
as  the  texture  Is  nol  so  coarse.  This  Sudan  grass  is  the  mosl  wonderful  thing 
in  the  way  of  hay  I  ever  saw.  i  have  bad  a  great  many  applications  for  seed, 
but  I  have  nun,-  to  sell. 

In  a  postscript  Mr.  Stegall  milled: 

I  neglected  to  mention  we  have  had  Quite  a  long,  dry  time;  no  rainfall.     Nol 
nil  the  crops  were  damaged.     The  Sudan  grass  has  resisted  the  drought,  the 
is  i»n  the  bottom  land  standing  betteT  than  that  on  the  sand]  soil. 

In  a  subsequent  reporl  additional  data  were  given  m-  follows: 

Yon  seni  me  2  pounds  of  Beed.     l  sowed  it  on  one-eighth  of  an  acre.     I  got 

400  pounds  of  nice,  enrol  hay  at  each  cutting.    Son f  my  neighbors  told  me 

I  sowed  it  too  thick,  bul  for  cutting  In  milk  I  am  satisfied  l  Bowed  It  abonl 
right  when  l  turned  my  cattle,  bogs,  and  horses  In  the  Held,  I  had  goobers 
peas  corn,  and  crab-grass,  but  they  would  nol  eat  any  of  these  until  the  Sudan 
grass  was  completely  consumed,     stuck  love  it  better  than  anything  else  they 

can  gel   to  eat. 

I  had  a  small  patch  of  Johnson  grass  right  by  the  side  of  the  - I  i  sowed 

in  the  bottom.    I  cul  the  Johnson  grass  twice  and  the  Sudan  grass  the  times 

The  weather  was  dry  and    I   u'"t   a   nice  cure  every    time   I   cut.      Stock  would  eat 

the  Sudan  mass  before  they  would  the  Johnson  grass 

Mr.  W.  W.  Price,  Mounl  Pleasant,  Tex.,  recorded  his  experience  as 
follows : 

On  April  o  I  sowed  5  pounds  of  Sudan-grass  seed  on  one  half  of  an  acre  of 
light  sandy  laud.    The  grass  reached  a  height  of  T  feel  and  matured  64  • 
from  the  date  sown,  the  cutting  yielding  1 1  tons  of  hay. 
[fir.  125] 


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20  SUDAN    GRASS. 

The  experience  <>f  Mr.  II.  N.  Montgomery,  of  Austin,  Tex.,  is  thus 
reported : 

We  planted  the  Sudan  grass  broadcast,  aboui  like  oats,  on  ;i  rich  bul  rather 
droughty  piece  of  land  (black  waxy  i  which,  however,  had  been  well  prepared 
and  was  in  good  condition,  since  planting,  May  7,  we  have  had  one  good  rain, 
June  17.  The  grass  had  withstood  the  droughl  well  and  made  a  very  rapid 
growth,  attaining  an  average  height  of  5  feet.  Although  very  similar  in  ap- 
pea ranee  to  Johnson  grass,  I  consider  it  far  superior  as  a  forage  crop,  as  it  i< 
much  more  bunchy,  putting  out  more  stems  and  a  great  many  more  leaves  than 
Johnson  grass.  The  stems  are  very  sweet,  containing  a  great  deal  of  sugar,  and 
are  eaten  greedily  by  both  cows  and  horses,  none  of  it  being  wasted,  as  i- 
Often  the  case  with  the  coarser  grasses.  I  should  judge  that  it  would  make 
double  the  amount  of  hay  made  by  Johnson  grass  under  the  same  conditions. 
Tlie  root  system  is  very  much  like  that  of  oats  or  crab-grass  and  there  is  no 
danger  of  the  land  becoming  infested,  as  it  is  easy  to  kill  out.  I  plowed  aci 
one  end  of  my  patch  of  Sudan  grass  with  a  sweep,  turning  the  bunches  up,  and 
there  has  been  no  sign  of  its  reappearance. 

I  cut  the  hay  after  saving  all  the  seed,  and  the  grass  is  again  sprouting, 
although  there  has  been  no  rain. 

Next  year  I  expect  to  plant  all  the  seed  I  have,  as  Sudan  grass  has  proved 
itself  far  superior  in  quality  and  quantity  to  any  of  the  grasses  in  this  locality. 
1  shall  also  try  it  on  land  infested  by  Johnson  grass,  as  I  have  an  idea  that  if 
planted  thick  enough  it  will  choke  out  the  Johnson  grass  in  the  course  of  two  or 
three  years. 

KANSAS. 

Mr.  J.  M.  Grilman,  of  Leavenworth,  Kans.,  made  a  small  trial  in 
1912  with  the  following  results: 

I  made  two  plantings  of  Sudan  srrass.  one  early  and  one  later.  The  early 
planting,  April  25.  in  12-inch  rows,  was  of  much  less  growth  and  fell  down  and 
Shattered  seed  badly.  The  later  planting,  May  2d,  was  one-fifteenth  of  an  acre 
in  rows  42  inches  wide  and  was  cut  twice,  the  first  cutting  yielding  :'>4<;  pounds 
and  the  second  2<'.7  pounds  of  cured  hay.  The  first  cutting  was  left  a  little 
too  long,  but  was  cut  about  September  10;  the  next  cutting  was  made  October  14. 

ALABAMA, 

Mr.  Charles  Anderson,  of  Axis.  Ala.,  grew  Sudan  crass  in  1912 
and  <xave  his  experience  as  follow  >: 

I  planted  the  Sudan  grass  seed  May  2  and  cut  it  twice.  I  am  unable  to  giTC 
you  the  amount  in  pounds,  as  I  had  no  way  of  weighing.  If  grew  very  rapidly 
and  made  a  very  heavy  crop,  which  I  would  estimate  at  1  '  tons  to  the  acre  per 
cutting.  The  stock  ate  it  greedily,  hut  1  did  not  have  enough  to  demonstrate 
what  it  did  for  them,  though  they  were  fond  of  it.  I  would  consider  it  a  valu- 
able crop  to  grow. 

SOUTH    CAROLINA. 

Mr.  R.  Hates,  of  Jackson,  S.  C.  made,  the  following  report  : 
I  cut  this  grass  twice.     I*  went  to  seed  twice,  one  from  the  grain  and  again 
from  the  stubble.     The  seed  yield   was  poor,  being  but    10  bushels  per  acre  for 
both  harvests.     It  makes   i  hay  yield  fully  equal  to  Johnson  grass. 
[Cir.  125] 

o 


